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Frequently Asked Questions

​Does the Interior Design program have Council for Interior Design Accreditation(CIDA)?

​YES! The program received a six year accreditation decision effective 2015. The program is also accredited by NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design).

​How many students are in the Interior Design program?

​There are approximately 80 students in the program.

​Do you have specific recommendations for computer requirements for students?

​

The Interior
Design program at Central Michigan University (CMU) uses computers extensively.
The continuing and rapid advance of technology drives frequent upgrades or
replacements of the software and hardware. The laptop specification below
will provide maximum longevity for students entering the program:

Intel i7 or i5 Processor or AMD Quad Core processor

8 GB of Ram (Memory) minimum, 16 GB preferred

2 GB or Higher Video Card (independent video, not “shared” video)

256 GB Solid State hard drive or higher

Windows 10 operating system

An external mouse for CAD Drawings (hard to do on a trackpad)

(The specification will be updated
annually.)

The Autodesk web site provides the most up-to-date computer specifications for
the interior design software offered in
our program, such as Autodesk Architecture, Revit, and 3ds Max. You are
strongly recommended to refer to the System Requirements of the above software
at www.autodesk.com

For questions related to the software taught at CMU Interior Design program and
computer specifications, please contact Professor Zuo at zuo1jq@cmich.edu

​Are scholarships available to Interior Design students?

​Yes. The department has two annual scholarships that interior design students are eligible to apply for. These are the Helen Lohr Scholarship and the Charlotte Trout scholarship. In addition, there is one scholarship specific to interior design students from the Mt. Pleasant area in memory of Tracey Rondy.

​Are study abroad experiences available for Interior Design students?

​Yes. We try to make an experience available every other year. We traveled to London, Florence and Rome in 2004 and 2007, to Beijing, China in 2009, 2011, and 2012, and to Dublin, Ireland in 2016.

Is there a portfolio requirement for entering the program?

​Students must either present an admissions portfolio or complete art courses prior to entry into the second interior design studio (IND 337) OR, students may combine some portfolio elements with coursework to fulfill remaining elements. These elements include: freehand drawing, 2-d design, 3-d design, and art history.

What is the placement record of students in the program?

​The major is sensitive to the economy which has impacted current placement rates, especially those students desiring to remain in Michigan. The current placement rate is posted here.

​The department has an internship coordinator who assists students in locating a site. The IND 338 Internship Preparation course is taught by this coordinator, who provides additional support for locating a site.